"Paul" wrote in message
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"Capt. JG" wrote in message
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"Wayne.B" wrote in message
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On Sun, 08 Apr 2007 19:26:16 GMT, Short Wave Sportfishing
wrote:

How many of you cruisers carry an automatic defibrillator onboard as
part of your emergency medical supplies?

I've heard of a few but I'm not yet among them. How much training is
required to use them correctly, and how large are they?

Virtually no training is actually required, as they "talk" you though
using it on someone. It won't shock the person unless it determines it's
needed. There is some minor danger if you're touching the person, e.g.,
you don't listen to the warning to stand clear.

You can take a CPR class throught the RX that gives you the
certification, but here in Cal (possibly elsewhere) the Good Samaritan
laws protect people who use them.

I beleive their now about $1500 and not very big at all.

So what is the prognosis for the typical defib parient? Prior to last
summer's trip from California to Hawaii and back, I discussed heart attack
care with a doctor, and he wasn't too optimistic. He told me that unless
the patient could receive prompt follow-up treatment, the odds of a
successful recovery were pretty bad. Since we were at worst many days
away from outside medical help, I didn't pursue the defib unit (and some
of the crew were old enough that it might have been warranted).

Any opinions?

-Paul
Last evening we reviewed this subject with a Family Doctor and a Para Medic.
They concluded that if you can get to patient within 10 minutes you have
survival probability (pending a medical check up) of approximately 40%.
After which the patient has to be follow-up immediately and monitored by
medical specialists at a well equipped ER. Each case can be very different
and cannot be construed as typical. After an appropriate medical check up
surgery may be urgently required.